Thread: My "Clown" Haunt

Tweet

It's that time of year for me (August) when my thoughts turn to what theme I'd like my Backyard Halloween Haunt to be. After much thought, this year I'm leaning towards featuring CLOWNS!!! My friends here at the Halloween Forum have always been awesome with helpful suggestions and ideas as plan so I'm turning to you all once again.

As some background info: It's my fifth year of haunting. First year was simply haunting the front walkway. Second year was the driveway. Third year was a tour around my house into the backyard. And the fouth year was actually a very long tour into the woods behind my home. Although I'd love to take the tour into the woods again, safety concerns and keeping things different each year is my main objective for 2011. ( Psst..Next year I might head back into the trees again.) This year I think I'll go back to driveway BUT include my under the house one car garage as part of the tour. I'd also like my actors to start scaring people this year well before they take the tour.

My questions are:
Once TOTS enter my driveway tour, I'd like to have two or three shows that'll feature clown actors. (I usually have about 15 helpers). We do lead the TOTS so any show and a scare can be controlled/timed. Anyone have any good "Scary CLOWN acts they've seen before?" I have some ideas but am open to anything.

As mentioned before, I'd like to have a few actors wandering out in the street this year encouraging TOTS to attend the haunt. I'd love to have a slider and an actor on stilts wandering around. Has anyone ever come across cheep slider gloves and knee pads.? How about cheep stilts? As always I'm on a budget and can make stuff if needed.

Finally, WIND always seems to be an issue with my haunt. Although we went into the woods last year, some of my "surprises" were still ruined because the wind moved around the paper and cloth baracades I'd hung up. Does anyone have a good way to make tall wooden freestanding baracades that won't be a foot hazard on a tar driveway? I'd hate to have somone trip over something or have the wind knock one down on someone.

Yep----Lots of "clowning around" questions. But thanks again for all your help over the years. You've been great and I look forward to your ideas!!!

As a side note.... I did book an actual juggler (who will be dressed as a clown) to add a certain "professionalism" to the haunt's entrance area.

I guess nobody likes to talk about scary clowns. Ha Ha Ha Ha.

I love scary CLOWNS My haunted this year Its only about CLOWNS. Chek my pictures...

Ohhh Liuoliveira! Is that a carnival styled game??? Never thought about that direction. I should do a dunk tank for people waiting in line. Great stuff.

Originally Posted by ZomBie@ZombCie

As a side note.... I did book an actual juggler (who will be dressed as a clown) to add a certain "professionalism" to the haunt's entrance area.

I've never done a haunt so I can't help you there but I love the juggler idea. He could juggle skulls.

I love the idea of clowns and always find them creepy, even when they're not supposed to be. Some folks are terrified of clowns. I was at a haunt once where a girl was so scared that the actor just had to follow her around and she was really screaming and running away. I think you've got a great haunt planned here.

I've never done an "outside" haunt but wind and rain will always be a problem. Paper is going to get ruined, cloth will require good support but you have to cut some semi circle "holes" in it to mitigate the wind force.

Free standing wooden barricades will also have problems in the wind, you need some type of anchoring or weights at the bottom. You can always use sand bags as cheap weights but even that won't work if the wind is too strong. (Just think of the disaster in Indiana this weekend) You need some cross member supports to hold them up as well. It can get pretty involved to be safe.

You're soooo right Jack. I've tried to all. Paper rips and cloths whips! I like the idea of sandbags at the bottom though. Might help support paneling or a lightweight wood at the base and keep em from moving if it's windy. I can attach part of my blocks to anchor points on my home and basketball hoop pole as this year the walk will be shorter.

Check out these links for some great carnival or carnevil and sideshow ideas.

Dark Carnival Circus Sideshow

Haunted Carnival-Halloween Party 2011

Hi! I'm a newbie and need some ideas!

Outdoor party help

Thanks Printersdevil. Lots of cool links that go in all sorts of directions. Mucho appreciation!!!